Pittsburgh, Philadelphia face critical QB injuries

Big playmakers take big falls

Posted: Monday, November 18, 2002

By The Associated Press

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Tennessee Titans' best game in nearly two seasons was overshadowed Sunday by an injury to Pittsburgh quarterback Tommy Maddox that sent him to a hospital strapped to a stretcher with a bruised spinal cord and a concussion.

Steve McNair threw two touchdown passes to Kevin Dyson and Eddie George ran for two more as the Titans beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 31-23 Sunday for their fifth straight victory.

Maddox was tripped up by safety Lance Schulters and tossed the ball to Antwaan Randle El as he fell forward. Linebacker Keith Bulluck hit Maddox's shoulder with his forearm, and Maddox rolled onto his head and did not move.

Maddox was motionless as he was strapped to a backboard. Trainers and doctors worked on him for at least 15 minutes, then Maddox was lifted onto a stretcher, loaded into an ambulance on the field and taken to Baptist Hospital's trauma unit.

Steelers coach Bill Cowher said Maddox was conscious and talking while he was lying on the field, but that he'd lost feeling. Cowher said Maddox regained some feeling while at the hospital.

Eagles 38, Cardinals 14

PHILADELPHIA -- Donovan McNabb threw for four touchdowns despite breaking his right ankle on the third play of the game, an injury that could sideline him six-to-eight weeks.

Unable to scramble, McNabb stayed in the pocket and threw TD passes of 2 yards to James Thrash, 3 yards to Dorsey Levens, 27 to Todd Pinkston and 9 to Duce Staley in the first half. Though he limped noticeably the entire game, McNabb didn't miss a play after he was hurt -- the injury was diagnosed as a sprain during the game -- until resting with 4:49 left.

Broncos 31, Seahawks 9

SEATTLE -- Steve Beuerlein delivered when the Denver Broncos needed him most, throwing two fourth-quarter touchdown passes after Brian Griese left with a sprained knee.

Vikings 31, Packers 21

MINNEAPOLIS -- Daunte Culpepper threw for two touchdowns and ran for another, and the Vikings intercepted Brett Favre three times.

The Packers (8-2) have lost nine of 11 at the Metrodome and missed a chance to become the earliest team to clinch a division title in a 16-game season. They had won seven straight games.

Chargers 20, 49ers 17, OT

SAN DIEGO -- Steve Christie, one of the NFL's best kickers in the clutch, made a 40-yard field goal with 4:11 left in overtime.

Christie got his chance because San Francisco's Jose Cortez was wide right on a 41-yard attempt. It was Cortez's fourth miss in three weeks, including two in regulation at Oakland on Nov. 3 before he won that game in overtime with a 23-yarder.

Falcons 24, Saints 17

ATLANTA -- Michael Vick passed for two touchdowns and ran for another, while Atlanta slowed down the New Orleans Saints' prolific offense.

Vick put on another dazzling performance before a raucous Georgia Dome crowd of 70,382 -- the second-largest turnout in Falcons history.

Bucs 23, Panthers 10

TAMPA, Fla. -- Brad Johnson threw for 253 yards and two touchdowns, and the NFL's top-ranked defense forced four turnovers as the Bucs (8-2) took sole possession of the NFC South lead.

Chiefs 17, Bills 16

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Trent Green, the usually immobile Kansas City quarterback, darted 9 yards up the middle for the go-ahead score with 4:53 to play.

Eric Warfield intercepted Drew Bledsoe's final pass to clinch it.

Dolphins 26, Ravens 7

MIAMI -- Miami held Baltimore to a season-low 157 yards, and Ray Lucas finally notched his first win as a Dolphins quarterback, throwing for 221 yards.

Miami (6-4) ended a streak of three consecutive losses, all with Lucas starting for Jay Fiedler, who will likely miss two more games with a broken thumb. Despite the recent slump, the Dolphins remained in first place in the AFC East.

Jets 31, Lions 14

DETROIT -- Chad Pennington threw a career-high four touchdowns, two to Wayne Chrebet. The Jets (5-5) have won three straight and four of five to turn around their season after a 1-4 start.

Since 1997, the Jets have won an NFL-best 27 games on the road and are 9-3 as visitors in one-plus seasons under coach Herman Edwards.

Colts 20, Cowboys 3

INDIANAPOLIS -- Peyton Manning threw two late touchdown passes to Marvin Harrison, Mike Vanderjagt made two field goals and the Colts forced two late turnovers.

Browns 27, Bengals 20

CINCINNATI -- Tim Couch matched his career high with three touchdown passes and Cleveland's defense stopped Corey Dillon twice from point-blank range.

A crowd of 64,060, the second largest ever at Paul Brown Stadium, watched the Browns (5-5) stay in playoff contention by keeping Dillon from scoring.

Jaguars 24, Texans 21

HOUSTON -- The Jaguars didn't have to endure the embarrassment of losing to an expansion team twice in one season.

Mark Brunell passed for 224 yards and two touchdowns, atoning for a loss to the first-year team three weeks ago.

Giants 19, Redskins 17

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Giants rookie tight end Jeremy Shockey caught 11 passes for 111 yards and Matt Bryant kicked four field goals in a game made ugly by steady rain, turnovers and a 10-minute fourth-quarter video review.

Raiders 27, Patriots 20

OAKLAND, Calif. -- The Raiders kept the officials and their ''tuck rule'' out of it by taking an early lead and holding on to beat the Patriots in their first meeting since their infamous playoff battle last January.

Rich Gannon threw for 297 yards, and the Raiders (6-4) won their second straight game after losing four straight.

The Patriots (5-5) gained just 195 total yards and fell into a three-way tie for second place in the AFC West behind Miami.